or pirates, and then these make-belief sean-boats came into use everywhere.  But just now they were a novelty.  The King, persuaded by Richards, ordered one down from Cawsand, and had already used it once or twice to meet his larger craft somewhere in a good offing and tranship their cargoes.  By this he could run his kegs ashore at any state of the tide, leaving the empty vessels to be watched or overhauled by the Customs’ fellows.

But this time—­the weather being fine and settled, and the winds light—­ he was trying a faster game, and had sent the sean-boat right across channel to Roscoff, keeping his sailing-craft in harbour.  It would be dark before nine, no moon till after mid-night, and by all calculations the boat ought to make the cove between ten and eleven, after lying well outside and waiting her chance.  It all seemed promising enough, but somehow the King couldn’t be quite easy.

However, he listened quietly, and the preacher talked away for one solid hour, until Uncle Billy Leggo (who had been keeping watch all the afternoon) came knocking at the door.  “You’ll excuse me a minute,” said the King, and went outside to hear the report.  The weather had been flat calm all day, with a slow ground-swell running into the cove, but with the cool of the evening a light off-shore breeze had sprung up, and Uncle Billy had just seen the Revenue cutter stealing out from Penzance.

“Botheration!” said Captain Carter, and fined himself sixpence.  Then he went back to the parlour, and the preacher started afresh.

Twice again before supper came Uncle Billy with news of the cutter’s movements, and the second time there could be no mistaking them, for she was dodging back and forth and lying foxy around Cuddan Point.

All through supper the preacher talked on and on, and the King ate without knowing what he was eating.  He couldn’t afford to lose this cargo; yet Mr. Collector Wearne meant business this time, and would collar the boat to a certainty unless she were warned off.  But to show a light from the coast meant a hundred pounds fine or twelve months’ hard labour.  The King slewed round in his chair and looked at the great pile of shavings in the fireplace.  A hundred pounds fine with the chance of burning the house-thatch about his ears!

Supper over, he and his guests turned their chairs towards the fireplace.  The King took flint and steel and struck a match; lit his pipe, and stared at the shavings; then dropped the light on the floor, ground it out with his heel, and puffed away thoughtfully.  The preacher went on talking.

“Render unto Caesar . . . tribute to whom tribute is due.  That applies to King George to-day every bit so much as it did to Caesar.”

“Caesar and King George be two different persons,” said Captain John, stopping his pipe with his thumb.

“The principle’s the same.”